Friday, December 18, 2009

We are talking about a military incursion here. Iran moved forces into a disputed area and seized what is considered and Iraqi oil well. This is the furthest Iranian forces have ventured and they are thought to have withdrawn. No casualties were reported, nor even a fire fight. This could be some sort of test, or they could just be getting more embolden by our inaction.

"Iranian troops have crossed into Iraqi territory and seized an oil well that lies in a disputed area along the two countries' southern border, Iraq's deputy foreign Minster said Friday.

The deputy minister, Mohammed Haj Mahmoud, said Iranian troops seized oil well No. 4 Thursday night in the al-Fakkah oil field, located about 200 miles (about 320 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad. The oil field is one of Iraq's largest....In Washington, a U.S. official said that although Iranians have crossed the border before, they had not previously ventured this far.

Iraqi security forces were in the area, but there are no reports of any fighting or that any shots were fired, he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.

No U.S. troops were in the area. And the Iranians are believed to have left the area, he said. "